Backstreet Records

Backstreet Records
Parent companyUniversal Music Group
Founded1979 (1979)
FounderDanny Bramson
Distributor(s)MCA Records (1979-2003)
Geffen Records (2003-present)
Country of originU.S.
LocationUniversal City, California

Backstreet Records was an MCA Records subsidiary label founded in 1979 by Danny Bramson, who was executive director of MCA's Universal Amphitheatre.[1] The name was derived from the Bruce Springsteen song "Backstreets". The label's first releases were Robbie Patton's Do You Wanna Tonight and the self-titled debut album by Tears in August 1979. The first major signing to the label was Tom Petty, ending a legal battle between Petty and MCA over his recording contract which was acquired when MCA purchased ABC Records.[2] The label's roster of artists also included J.J. Cale, Keith Sykes, Nils Lofgren,[3] Men Without Hats, and Walter Egan. The label's last release was in 1983, after which it was absorbed into MCA Records.

Backstreet also released rock-oriented soundtrack albums to several films produced by its parent company Universal Studios, including Where the Buffalo Roam, Nighthawks, The Border, Cat People and Doctor Detroit.

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